As Lake Geneva community members mourn the loss of three children killed in a boating accident, the city’s Fourth of July Liberty on the Lake celebration went on this evening with a tribute to the victims. Stephanie Klett, president and CEO of Visit Lake Geneva, said that local officials debated whether or not to continue on with the holiday drone show due to the tragedy, but ultimately decided that the community needed a joyful space to come together and heal. “The last 24 hours, it’s
really all that the locals have been talking about, so I think they appreciated having that recognition of a tragedy like this,” she said. Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause and Klett shared remarks at the Liberty on the Lake pre-show program at 5:45 p.m. and led a one-minute moment of silence for victims. More: What we know so far about a deadly boating accident on Geneva Lake The crowd was reverent and reflective on Saturday evening, she said. After the moment of silence, tributes continued
when American Legion Post 327 out of Lyons, Wisconsin, did a presentation of officers and honored the children who died in the accident. Saturday’s celebration included a variety of kids’ activities, including face painters and living statues, like Uncle Sam on stilts and the Statue of Liberty, for people to take photos alongside. Though the ceremony started solemnly, Klett and other organizers hoped it could lift the spirits of community members. Lake Geneva often does not host a Fourth of July celebration. Instead, a fireworks
show is hosted across the lake in the nearby village of Fontana. This year was a rare opportunity to celebrate on the local side of the lake, Klett said. Reflecting on the events of the past 24 hours, Klett stated that the tragedy has reminded her and other community members of how quickly things can change in a person’s life. “Just a few minutes before that storm rolled in, everything looked like a postcard in downtown Lake Geneva,” she said. “On the lake, that storm
came in fast and furious, and it’s a reminder of the fragility of life.” Though the identities of the victims have not been released yet, Klett said the children involved were 11 and under. Additionally, she detailed that the driver of the boat involved in the crash is an experienced boater. “We had 65 mph straight winds, and so it did not give people a lot of time to get off the lake,” Klett said Beyond the tribute at Saturday evening’s event, Lake Geneva officials
have received support from cities and communities across the U.S., with prayers sent for the affected family, GoFundMe accounts set up, and more. “We have been truly overwhelmed by the response,” Klett said.
Lake Geneva, Fourth of July, Liberty on the Lake, boating accident, moment of silence, drone show, Visit Lake Geneva, Todd Krause, Stephanie Klett, American Legion Post 327